McCrory will sign House abortion bill

RALEIGH — Gov. Pat McCrory on Friday said he would sign the House version of the abortion bill if it comes to his desk, but that he would still veto the Senate’s version if that’s what passes the General Assembly.

“The recent House version allows the medical professionals at the Department of Health and Human Services to write the rules which will ensure women’s safety,” McCrory said in a statement his office released. “I want to thank those who worked on an improved bill which will better protect women while not further limiting access.”

NARAL Pro-Choice North Carolina quickly condemned the announcement.

“The Governor made a campaign promise in October not to support any restrictions on abortion in our state,” executive director Suzanne Buckley said in a written response. “By signing this bill, Governor McCrory would be going back on his campaign promise and sending a message that he can’t be trusted to stick to his word.”

McCrory in a campaign debate in October said he would not sign any new restrictions on abortions into law. On Monday, reacting to the Senate’s abortion clinic regulation bill, he said there was a distinction between safety measures and restrictions, and that he wanted to be sure women’s health was protected. On Wednesday, he threatened to use his veto power for the first time if his concerns weren’t addressed.

The House then crafted a new bill in consultation with the governor’s administration, which the full House approved on Thursday. It would impose new regulations on abortion clinics, among other provisions.

But no one yet knows what those regulations might be, and so it is difficult to argue whether they are safeguards or actually restrictions that end up blocking women’s access to abortions. The state Department of Health and Human Services can develop temporary rules, without legislative approval, before coming up with permanent rules.

There are not many differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. But the main difference is the Senate bill would require abortion clinics meet the same standards as outpatient surgery centers. Only one clinic in the state meets those stringent standards and 16 others could have to close because they couldn’t afford to upgrade.